Onboard for 70 minutes behind the U.K's Most Powerful Steam Locomotive: 71000 Duke of Gloucester *

The "Record Breaking" 3rd Sept. 2005 Dalesman.

We travel North on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) over Grayrigg and Shap, then back over the Settle & Carlisle (S&C) featuring “The Long Drag” to Ais Gill, Ribblehead Viaduct and The Ribble Valley Line before finishing at Crewe, a stunning route in equally stunning weather including a performance not beaten to this day.

Re-mastered from the original SD “Letterbox” format you can now view this footage in “Full Screen” and although video quality is not as good as current HD & UHD, this is soon forgotten as you get involved with the action! I have punctuated the presentation with essential information on location (so that those who do not know the route can follow it on a map), also gradients and “comments” of my own! I have included the climb of Shap for continuity, previously published separately with more route information here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4Lgv7RopnY&t=9s .

Many things have changed since 2005: Health & Safety Rules have prohibited much of what you see here by controlling access to door windows (what happens at 13:33 is probably an example of why!). Track has been upgraded on the S&C and (thankfully) on The Ribble Valley Line where steady filming back then was almost an impossibility! Housing developments have appeared and line-side infrastructure changed. Some things have not changed: Line-side trespassing took place as with more modern Flying Scotsman tours and of course, the incredible scenery in good weather is as stunning as ever.

Notes:
1) The whole presentation represents only 20% of the steam action on the day.
2) The delivery of coal was of very poor quality and contained a lot of dust which was sucked straight up the chimney when working hard, with the effect of producing a lot of black smoke. This is in no way down to poor firing, indeed the exceptional performance achieved was a testament to the outstanding skills demonstrated by all on the footplate.
3) there is one Blooper I'm afraid: I wrongly name Farington Junction as Euxton Junction. Thanks to Olderrover for pointing it out.

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